Canoe Trip

The first week of the Easter Holidays we decided to go canoeing. We have done quite a bat of canoeing in the past - down the Wye and the Monnow mainly and boy oh boy this was not like that!
I duly phoned a contact someone had said had canoes Mufu and we drove way out past Lekki to meet him, on his Ocada, at the side of the road. He then led us to this village. It was really well run with stand pipes and children everywhere. I had packed some sweets and pens incase there were kids about and I was quickly over run with children wanting lollipops. The little ones didn't know they had to take the wrappings off, so we spend quite a time unwrapping lollies.
We were then taken to our canoes and we had a paddler each! The canoes were in various stages of decay - each had a bailing bucket (not a good omen) and were hand carved out of tree trunks. The canoeing was fantastic there was no sound just insects and birds - magical two hours in the back waters of Lagos.

Edible fungus - but I am such a wuss I didn't eat it - isn't red poisonous?

Real dug out

my Paddler Taho

I am going to destroy this hat soon!

very willing to be disturbed!

In the school pineapple garden

After about an hour in the canoes we stopped at another remote village asnd we were introduced the the dead Chief's wife. The Chief is buried on the front step of the house - a thing that shocked our two teenaged companions. We were also taken to the school and they were very proud of their new toilets (although I saw kids peeing in the playground) but again our intrepid teenagers ( and their older companions) declined the offer of using the facilities. The pens came in very useful here though the kids and adults all wanted them.

School playground
Next stop after the canoeing was the beach at the Lekki free zone. This is where one of the previous rulers of NIgeria, Alowolo, was placed under house arrest for 10 years. It is also where Lekki, a portugese slave trader exported his thousands of slaves to the West Indies. It is hard to believe that such a beautiful place was the place of such misery and degradation.  All that remains of the slave compound is one of the pillars that they were marched through to the boats. This should be preserved to remind of of how cruel man can be to others but it has been left to decay- perhaps that is the better way .

beautiful beach and water but savage undertow

they caught very little when we were there

The slave post at Lekki

out of touch

I am so sorry we haven't been blogging, but I didn't know anyone was reading the blog!! I will now update weekly.
Some of the things we have done have been really interesting! We are now members of the yacht club and have started sailing little catamarans called Hobies. Great fun so when we were back in the UK we have bought floatation devices etc. I must admit though we only joined the yacht club for the social aspect and for the trips each Sunday to a lovely little beach.

water coming out of the wrong pipe

For those of you who know me, you know I don't "rough it", so these photos of the trip we took to Osogbo will really make you laugh. We went up to a World Heritage Site - sacred to the Yoruba people and stayed in a well known artists "guest house" OMG . At least the sheets were clean - that is all I will say. The shower photos show my naive expectation that hot water would come out of the shower head - there was after all a hot water tank on the wall plugged into the electrical supply. NO the water came out of the corroded pipes all over the electrical wires! After that we had cold showers. well the water is never really cold just luke warm. And that was one of the first things we did on coming home to the UK, took a huge drink of cold tap water- until you can't do that you don't realise how much you will miss it.

the guest house

the gardens at the guest house were lovely

these girls are 8 and 9

the electrics were - challenging

this bridge was made by a Welsh Engineer and the duplicate of it is in  Herefordshire!!!

the monkeys were everywhere- hunting is banned

In the Sacred Groves

changing a tyre miles from anywhere

the upstairs was added later and you can't get from the ground floor to the 1st floor except by going outside.

Back to Osogbo, we went with fantastic friends who have lived in  Nigeria for over 30 years and who know everything, but the car had 4 flat tyres over the weekend and the air conditioning broke down. Still Carl can now change a Toyota tyre incredibly quickly.

Back Blogging

Well, here we are back in Lagos.Some of you have noticed that we dropped out of sight on the 12th of December and life just overtook us!
The Christmas celebrations here were a bit surreal to us with blow up snowmen outside shops in 30+ deg and carols playing everywhere.
The parties were great and the whole thing was brilliant with genuine bonhomie to all--the Christmas party at Susan's school was a case in point--it was held on the last day of term on the school sports pitch under sun awnings.A full professional disco, more food than an army could eat and a lovely atmosphere.I am sure a lot of the staff think I work at the school and take pity on "the poor Head's husband" who stumps about with the broken leg.
We made it home and Huw and Hanna were both there with their partners.Tony and Hanna were spliced the July before last and are living in the house at Monmouth complete with dogs etc. Huw brought Nicole the current (and it looks as if the last)girlfriend as they announced that they were "engaged to be engaged" with plans for an antipodean marriage next year.
Christmas came and went in a flash together with New Year and Susan and I had to go to London to interview for new staff.We were reminded just how small the world is when we were in the lift in the London grange Hotel and a little voice behind piped up "good morning,Mrs Eriksson"--two of her pupils from Lagos were staying in the same place!
In the meantime things were happening in Nigeria which were causing security concerns so Shell told us not to come back until the General Strike had finished and the Civil Unrest had died down.Everything is calm here now (we haven't heard a machine gun on our road for days) and, despite the fact that everything has gone up in price (due to the price hike in fuel by the government) everyone is back to the old ways.

Charlotte, one of the teachers at St Saviours, was due to move in to a new apartment after Christmas.We are getting the hang of Nigeria now and realised that the Promise,set in stone and absolutely definite,was not worth the cloud it was written on and so, Susan being a kind and loving Headteacher,told Charlotte that she could stay with us for a few days whilst the work was finished (remember that the hand over date was Jan 1st).When we arrived back on Jan 15th we were greeted by Charlotte who was still living in our spare room (or Charlotte's room as it is now known).I took over the project management and Charlotte moved in last weekend.I had to threaten the contractor with impalement,electrocution and, worse of all, not paying the bill.
I am quite convinced that they thought I was serious about serious violence at the end because they bucked up and finished the job eventually.(I was getting to the point where a crucifixion was going to be carried out)

The weather is nice here so we decided to visit the Lekki Conservation Area, which is on the outskirts of town. For 500 Naira each (about£2) you can wander around a wooden boardwalk of about 3km which threads its way through the rainforest and one can see lots of wildlife.We saw wild monkeys,a huge tortoise and lots of birds but the trip that some of the kids went on a few days later saw snakes and a croc as well (so they said).

I am now the Treasurer of The Nigerian Field Society (I didn't see that one coming) and was handed over the books etc last month together with a huge wad of cash (never saw the need for a damned bank account,old boy!) so at least I know the NFS is in good shape financially.
Last weekend we helped host a visit by a Principal from a Public School in the UK.He has been to Lagos before but never really seen it so we took him to Lekki Market which is a huge,sprawling craft/food/trinket and junk market about 20 mins from our place.Larry spent about 300,000 Naira on presents and bits to take home,including 40 packs of Indomie Noodles for his staff.
I must explain that Indomie Noodles are a type of instant snack (like our Pot Noodle) which are, quite simply, fantastic and superior to all of their rivals--I eat lots of them.
Last Monday was a public holiday to celebrate the Prophet Mohammed's Birthday (praise to his name)--they know how to holiday here,just like it used to be at home with shops shut and offices closed and everyone gone home to their village for the weekend.

Susan arrived home tonight (Thursday) with a truly Nigerian letter from (and this is true) The Society for the Safety of the Insane and Destitute.
The opening line was "Greetings from the SO-SAID charity organisation and from God Almighty,The father of mercies"
Susan was pleased ,and not a little flattered, to think that God had sent personal greetings to her but soon realised that the letter was a thank you for some foodstuffs that the school donated before Christmas. The phrasing was a little quaint (in fact it may have been written by an inmate) but we found it very touching that this organisation, which really does look after the welfare of the Insane and Destitute, took the time to thank us for what was, in real terms, not much at all.

I can't wait to find out what this weekend brings!

last week (1 week to go!!!)

Success?s
The Carol Service - 9 lessons and carols in an Anglican church with a really upbeat Nigerian feel. Wow did I cry!!! The kids were amazing, and my lovely Deputy Head Tina refused to follow Carl's instructions ie tell her that she has to dance down the aisle again!!! How have I remained married to this man for 31 years. Minor hiccup was the vicar wasn't told what time we were starting (huge error in Nigeria) and we had the choir at the back lined up ready to process to One in Royal David's City and Tina and myself were working out who was going to say what at Bidding Prayers, but luckily he arrived and was great.
We have started a Glee Club as well as choir an boy oh boy my Kids can belt out a number. FANTASTIC.
Then we had the Key Stage 1 Nativity- in the open air in the dark with a full moon AND a perfect Evening Star for the children to point at. It was truly magical and of course you can't go wrong with Reception angels singing and dancing but really it was a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life, only enhanced by the HUGE fruit bats flying overhead. (OK the professional photographer employed by one of the shepherds parents who ACTUALLY GOT ON THE STAGE to photograph the child was a bit inconvenient but I remember the Rougemont days and parents are the same all over the world - only think of their child.   AND he got off the stage when I (discreetly) shouted B....Off!! to him. And no-one else seemed to notice!

BUT it's last week at school- where have the weeks gone? I am lucky to be in such a caring warm atmosphere (I am saying that a bit tongue in cheek because I don't think teachers have ever had their reports scrutinised with the  Eriksson eye and they were a bit shocked but it isn't going out with my name on it if it isn't perfect) AND I know people will laugh because of my typing gaffs but school is different.

NOW to the other ex-pat who doesn't seem to do much for the blog etc but wants it kept upto date and everything else I'm interviewing a teacher via Skype in Thailand tonight - may need to visit him... See you all NEXT WEEK
Ha !! The other Ex Pat will fill in the gaps but the typing will be better, the grammar will be better, and the syntax will make sense !
The last week but one before going home has been the usual meals out etc.
On Monday I went to (Susan the angel was working!!) the Christmas lunch party for our compound--it's tough being "the Spouse" when you have to sit with 24 others--all female! (actually it really is fun ).As usual , drink was taken and I tottered back to our place just in time for Susan to arrive home for--you've guessed it, a stiff G&T which, naturally, I had to share.
I'll be glad to get home if only to give the liver a rest.
Wednesday,as Susan said, was the School Carol Service.The kids were good but it was, to say the least, confusing because of the mixing of verses etc.In one carol there was a verse for Ladies--who all dutifully sang--next verse , men.....or should I say Man, coz only one mug joined in and guess who that was.
Thursday night, out to the GQ with my pal Bing for Tex/Mex and Margueritas then Friday night out to the school Nativity play/concert--very interesting and very Nigerian. I don't say that in a bad way but it was certainly different from the sort of thing you expect to see in UK. The kids were great and a good time was had by all.
Off to the Market at Lekki on Saturday morning for some veggies and bits--it is funny how all the fruit is ripe and sweet, the sweetcorn perfect etc,etc, until you get it home and try to eat it--I guess Market traders are the same the world over but they take it to another level over here.
Saturday night out to the PTA bbq at the school with free cocktail bar and a barman that mixed Mohitos that were brilliant--I found out (too late ) that each drink contained 4 measures of rum which is what gave them that particular kick.Half a dozen of those and you are anybody's (or everybody's if your not careful).
Sunday--Ahh! a "lie in" til late morning but then up ,do the Roasties and Carrots for Christmas lunch with next door--proper job with Turkey and trimmings,a few bottles of wine, Christmas Pud,mince pies,pparty poppers and crackers.My best Pal,Sean (age 3) and I had a great time but,after the n'th drink, I did find some of the jokes a little challenging.
Thank goodness for a rest today.Tomorrow its a curry dinner with Howard, another head teacher,Wednesday is Shell works do, Thursday is School works do, Friday is packing to come home and then Saturday night is fish and chips in Monmouth (all being well, or as they say here," Please God !!")
It's Monday night,6.45pm,and on the balcony,where I'm sitting typing this, the temp is 28deg,humidity 38% and a lovely sunset.

St Andrew's Ball and Tarkwa Bay

On Saturday, we went to the St Andrew's Ball- a great night. Lots of dancing drinking and good cheer with new friends and what now seems like old friends but really we haven't known anyone longer than 14 weeks!
On our table for 6, were 3 bottles of red wine, 1 bottle of white, 1 bottle of port, 1 bottle of single malt and 1 bottle of Baileys! That didn't include all the glasses of champagne or whiskey when you arrived. 

St Andrew's Ball

I danced all night- traditional Scottish dances and then Carl, and the boot, got up and we danced some salsa numbers together - I must admit he had partaken a lot of the above mentioned drinks by then so felt no pain-it was a different matter at 3:00am when Carl was awoken by huge amounts of pain- it was touch and go whether or not we went to the hospital but luckily painkillers took the edge off.


The next morning - Sunday we were due to go to Tarkwa bay with the Field Society but thought better of it and then a friend phoned and said Carl could just sit on the beach no walking involved so we quickly got supplies together and I drove to the yacht club.
We set off to the bay in a small motor powered lighter, the journey was quite rough but exhilarating
  and when we arrived at the bay, we had to jump out into about 2 feet of water and wade ashore- at least some of us had to! 
It is the greatest regret of this tour so far that I didn't had my camera ready when this huge Nigerian guy waded into the water and physically picked up Carl into his arms and carried him through the water!!! Can you imagine the sight? The guy was huge but then so is Carl...

The barbeque at the beach house

The walk to the beach from the light house

Frog ponds with lillies blooming

WW2 gun emplacements

The beach was lovely but, as with so many places here, the rubbish was everywhere why it isn't cleared no-one can answer. Carl ensconced himself in the beach house with gin, tonic and a book and for some reason I didn't stay with him but went on the cultural trip to look at the lighthouse. We walked for well over two hours in 36c heat!! But the views were spectacular, there were amazing ponds build to entice and breed frogs - a good food crop. We also saw World War 2 heavy gun emplacements - there were a number of sea battles off Lagos, the structures are still there, but are being used as houses!

this was beached in January 2011

This has been on the beach a matter of weeks

The beach walk on the way back was spectacular, the beach front is covered in wrecks!! some huge and new others very very old. Walking along the beach with just 4 other people looking at the birds and the wrecks was amazing, BUT about a half hour out from safety, we heard the menacing sound of automatic gun fire- suddenly realised we were very isolated, but the gun fire was between two ships out in the bay and we never saw the outcome of the battle.
Sounds amazing to be typing that so matter of factly but it is a fact of life here, you do hear gunfire, you do read of pirates and you must be vigilant at all times.


The rest of the week has flown by and I am still not used to hearing Little Donkey and Oh Little town Of Bethlehem being sung whilst I am sweltering in the heat.
On Wednesday we went to the British High Commission to see a marvellous documentary film called the Burma Boys, it was the story of a Lagotian man who fought for the British in World War 2 in Burma- watch it if you can it is being shown on U-Tube and tells a forgotten story of the African troops who signed up to fight for a country they didn't know because the King Called them- very moving and the 86year old star of the story was in the BHC with us and his family.

Three weeks left

I can't believe it is only three weeks until we come home. I must say I am so looking forward to seeing everyone and SHOPPING- proper SHOPPING.


We have had another hectic social week. 
Monday- We went to a play brought over by The British Council which was a star at the Edinburgh Festival. Really good, but although myself and the other 30 people really enjoyed it - I think it was a waste of Taxpayers money (and if I paid taxes in the UK I would be angry with the BC) The play is moving on all over Africa and Australia- nice work if you can get it.


Tuesday- Carl and myself went to buy a freezer from a neighbouring compound, and our driver dropped us at the wrong door, so we had to walk past a member of staff's flat- I shouted to her just to say Hello and then she ran to me. She was having an extreme allergic reaction - the lot swollen face, lips and throat so I bundled her in my car and asked Whallid to drive as fast as he could - we got to the hospital in about 15 minutes but only just in time. NO way an ambulance would have got to her because no-one moves out of the way for them.As I have said before you must be self sufficient here- HUM should we buy a full operating kit when we are at home ?


Wednesday - fantastic curry with the Head of the British International School


Thursday - Thanksgiving at the American GQ club (we joined an American Club!!! great margaritas- since coming here I have definitely developed a taste for them) WE had the lot, ham, turkey, biscuits, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie all mixed with great drink and wonderful company.


Friday we stayed home and ate on the balcony


Saturday- today - we are going to the St Andrew's Ball with the Lagos Caledonian society - huge black tie affair with lots of Scottish dancing


And tomorrow Sunday we are going on another Field Society Trip  this time in a sail boat to an old Slave port for a look around and lots of food.


This is  mixed in with starting school at 7:00am and not stopping all day. I have bags under my eyes like you can't believe!!!


After the last trip , we collected well over 700 books for the school in the end and one parent gave me a cheque for the school of N50,000 (about £200) to buy things for the school. Some people are so caring.


I am going to come home to the uK whiter than I went away!! We have a fab pool but it is just too hot to spend any time outside at the moment. at 1:00pm today we sat outside in the shade for lunch and it was 31c but in the sun on the back balcony the thermometer reads 39.5c.!!!
And I am making cakes and mincepies for the British Women's Group bazaar next week.
IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS I am still wearing strappy dresses and sandals .


I'll try an update the blog on the Ball and the trip tomorrow.

Stressful Day

We have had a few challenges during our time in Nigeria, but on Friday I had the biggest challenge of my headship career. At the end of the school day, some children had left, lots were going to afterschool activities, and hundreds of people were on site milling around looking at the book stalls, chatting to friends and enjoying the afternoon sunshine, we had a fire. The school hall caught fire. Within seconds of a parent telling me she could smell smoke in the hall, the stage, curtains and roof were ablaze. We set off the alarms and the children knew exactly what to do, they went to the muster points and sat down, BUT NANNIES PANICKED. We nearly had a disaster as some of them ran and pushed children out of the way and tried to climb the fences. We could have had children crushed against the fences- doesn't bear thinking about It took so much shouting and screaming to calm them down. We cleared the classroom blocks and then had nannies pushing us out of the way to go back into the buildings to get the children's bags. Eventually we calmed them down, but there are lessons to be learnt and we will practice fire drills at the end of the day for parents and nannies regularly.

The school hall burnt to the ground, my staff broke down the covered walkways that joined the hall to the classrooms, we used every fire extinguisher and jury-rigged a hose from the pool, but the fire service took 1 hour to get to us. We saved the rest of the school, but the hall no.
We were lucky- not one injury, but boy will we do training with nannies now!!
As I said earlier on in the blog history you have to be self-reliant in Nigeria. you cannot rely on the infrastructure that we take for granted.
So on my CV now it says, historic school with original, colonial architecture celebrates 60 years in one place- new head comes and burns it down!!!!
On Saturday we had an emergency technical committee meeting to ensure that we have the hall fenced off and made safe for school to open on Monday- this was a little bizarre, as we needed to get the contractor to buy and erect the zinc hoardings, but he needed cash money before he would do it!! SO, we all emptied our pockets, went to the cash machines and gave the guy N250,000 (£1000)  so he could go to the market (which only takes cash) and buy the materials- B&Q need to come to Nigeria and soon please. Can you imagine that happening in  a school in the UK?
But we all laughed, thanked God for looking after the school and gladly worked throughout the day.